Chris Faytok/The Star-LedgerDevils center John Madden celebrates his first of two goals scored during the second period on Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco Wednesday night at the Prudential Center.

Even as he pursues Terry Sawchuk as the NHL's all-time shutouts leader, Martin Brodeur doesn't enjoy talking about the importance of his personal accomplishments.

But after notching his 98th career shutout in a 5-0 victory over the Dallas Stars Wednesday night at the Prudential Center, putting him five behind Sawchuk, Brodeur conceded that he felt a large measure of satisfaction.

Sean Avery, little more than a minor distraction, was held scoreless.

"Him not scoring. That's one thing," Brodeur said after also posting his 543rd victory to move to within eight of all-time leader Patrick Roy.

"I'm just happy nobody got carried away. No suspension, because you never know what's going to happen."

Avery, playing his first game against Brodeur and the Devils since last spring's antics in the playoffs with the Rangers, had a few moments in which he demanded attention. But when it was over, the focus was on the Devils and their 5-1 record. It's their best start since 2002-03, when they also opened 5-1.

Last season, when they play their first nine games on the road while the Prudential Center was being completed, the Devils started 3-3.

"It's kind of nice to perform in the way we did with the hiccups we got on the road, having two big injuries in our lineup," said Brodeur, referring to Brian Rolston (high ankle sprain) and Bobby Holik (broken right pinkie). "For us to not miss a beat is a credit to the guys."

All Brodeur and the Devils needed was Jamie Langenbrunner's goal less than two minutes into the game on a backhander from the bottom of the right circle, but they really took control when John Madden scored twice in the second period within a span of 72 seconds.

Madden's first of the night came at 9:05 when defenseman Paul Martin led him with the puck and he skated between Dallas defensemen Matt Niskanen and Trevor Daley. Madden then beat starting goalie Marty Turco on his glove side with a shot from the left circle.

Bryce Salvador took a shot that Turco stopped just over a minute later, but Madden skated in past defenseman Philipe Boucher and put the rebound behind the Dallas goalie at 10:17.

The two goals were not the fastest by the same Devils player. That record belongs to Jeff Friesen, who scored back-to-back goals in 26 seconds against the Florida Panthers on Jan. 13, 2003.

Turco, who allowed three goals on 15 shots, was replaced at that point by backup Tobias Stephan, who allowed third-period goals by Zach Parise and David Clarkson but no more from Madden.

"I wasn't really thinking about the hat trick," Madden said. "I was trying to get Marty (Brodeur) the shutout."

Brodeur preserved the shutout with a big save on Mike Ribeiro with 14:57 remaining in the third period. Ribeiro skated in alone after a Colin White giveaway, but Brodeur made what he called a "lucky" stop.

Avery, booed and serenaded by the crowd of 12,101, had three scoring chances in the first period. Brodeur gave him a whack to the back of his head at 11:36 after the Stars forward backed into the crease.

"I probably would've given anybody a shot right there. It just happened it was him," Brodeur said. "He played his game. He had a couple of good chances. He's a skilled player when he plays hockey. Today he played hockey and it showed."

Clarkson was most intent on giving Avery some payback, attempting to get him to fight twice in the first period. Avery refused both times and Clarkson drew an interference penalty the first time.

"I'm not a guy who's going to throw a punch. I dropped my stuff and grabbed him," Clarkson said. "I'm not a cheap shot. I wasn't going to punch him when he wasn't going to fight back. He said something to me. Not much I can say."

Coach Brent Sutter backed Clarkson.

"He was doing it for the right reasons," Sutter said. "Clarkie did what he thought was right for the team."